Flaxseed Oil and Treadmill Running Improve Behavioral Outcomes in Rats Exposed to Lead

Background & Objective: Lead entry into the body causes considerable damages to the brain in the long term. We aimed to investigate the effects of exercise (treadmill running) and flaxseed oil on lead acetate-induced behavioral deficits in male rats. Materials & Methods: 60 rats were divided into 6 groups: Control (C), Exercise (Ex), Flaxseed oil (FO), Lead (L), Lead- Exercise (L-Ex), and Lead- Flaxseed oil (L-FO). Groups L, L-Ex, and L-FO obtained 100 mg/kg of lead acetate, and groups FO and L-FO received 4 ml/kg (by gavage) of flaxseed oil for 28 consecutive days and Ex, and L-Ex groups ran on the treadmill. At the end of the session, spatial memory, depression, and anxiety behaviors were examined utilizing Morris water maze, forced swimming test, and elevated plus maze respectively. Results: Lead acetate impaired learning and memory and led to depression and anxiety in rats. Treadmill running and flaxseed oil, both, improved learning and memory and decreased anxiety, but unlike treadmill running, flaxseed oil could not prevent depression resulted from lead consumption. Conclusion: Exercising (treadmill running) and flaxseed oil prevent lead-induced behavioral deficits.